Today's market is so internet based, it's not unusual for buyers to locate homes they want to view. The buyer calls the listing agent to get info and asks see the home. Seems simple. So why don't agents show their listings?

There's an important question we ask any buyer who calls: "Are you working with an agent?"

We're not being mean or evasive. We need to know. If you have an agent, that agent should be showing the property to you, not us. We have an agency obligation to our seller that gives us the right to exclusively market their home. A buyer may have the same agreement with a selling agent (also called a "buyer's agent). It's not appropriate for us to intrude on that relationship, whether it be written or implied. So if you have an agent, we will tell you to "Ask your agent to show you the home."

My suggestion - if you want to call the listing agent and get information on the house, go for it. Find out a little about background info (especially if it is bank owned, a short sale, or normal sale). If you have an agent, pass the info you obtain on to your agent and let them take the reins.